Share

Facebook

Tweet

Pinterest

Email

Fresh concerns about diesel emissions have forced Volkswagen to stop selling the T6 Multivan in Germany, the country's Der Spiegel magazine reported last week. The move was reportedly prompted by excessive levels of nitrogen oxide that the automaker found in diesel versions of this popular MPV. Volkswagen has reported the issue to KBA, Germany's transport ministry watchdog, which is investigating the discrepancy.

The excessive levels of nitrogen oxide are thought to result from VW setting the emissions-linked "adjustment factor" too low in preparation for vehicle certification, according to Reuters. However, the problem is not believed to be linked to engine management software. Volkswagen is currently planning to run further tests in cooperation with the KBA before making any adjustments to Multivans that have already been sold and those awaiting sales.

Oliver Schmidt, the former high-ranking executive who spearheaded Volkswagen's multiyear efforts to keep its conspiracy to cheat on diesel emissions a secret from U.S. regulators and failed to ...

Volkswagen has not commented on engine types found to feature this discrepancy or the number of vehicles thought to be affected.

The reported halt of Multivan sales in connection with an emissions discrepancy marks the first major grounding of diesel VW models -- which are still sold in Europe and other markets -- following the company's historic diesel crisis in which dozens of VW Automotive Group models were recalled for emissions-cheating software. The diesel crisis touched all the major VW Group brands and prompted record-setting recalls in the U.S. and other countries that saw the automaker begin buybacks of over 400,000 diesel vehicles. Earlier this year, the crisis spread to Audi and Porsche, which are also part of the greater VW empire, as German police carried out searches in company offices and factories.